Capozzoli fills vacancy on Newport School Board

It didn’t take long for the Newport School Board to fill a vacancy. All it had to do was look at the May primary results.

Cheryl Capozzoli, 42, of Howe Twp. was named as the newest school board member at the board’s Aug. 17 meeting. She replaces Blake Tomforde, who resigned earlier this month for work-related reasons.

“I’m excited,” Capozzoli said. “It’s going to be a challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”

A long-time educator, Capozzoli is an advocate for technology in the classroom. She said she supports efforts involving technology.

“It’s not only about technology, but it’s about professional development for teachers,” she said. “They need to use technology effectively so students learn and be productive. The technology needs to enhance education.”

A New Jersey native, Capozzoli came to the area in the 1990s when she married her husband Michael. The couple has three children: 10-year-old Michael and 6-year-old twins, Daniel and Maria.

Capozzoli has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in instructional systems design from Philadelphia University.

Prior to her current position as an instructional technology specialist for the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, she worked as an instructional technology mentor at Susquehanna Twp. School District.

She said that Newport School District students need the technologies offered today so they can be successful tomorrow. So far, the district has taken the right steps, Capozzoli said, but there are some things that could be thought through a little further.

“There’s not been a lot of implementation at the elementary school,” she explained. “We need to implement technologies at other levels.”

Capozzoli said there are plenty of grants and alternative funding sources for technologies in classrooms, aside from raising taxes. She said that prior to making any funding decisions, proposals would need to be analyzed to ensure the need.

District Superintendent Dr. Kerry Helm said the board looked to Capozzoli due to her securing a slot in the November election. Capozzoli and board members Jill Deimler, Larry Davis and Troy Little were the top four vote getters in the May primaries.

“They figured since Cheryl was already coming on board, they might as well go ahead and ask her,” Helm said.